Railway car end



Aug. 4, 1942. E. w. TEST Erm. 2,292,251

RAILWAY GAR END 52 J0 d' j Aug. 4; 1942. E. w. rl-:s'r ETAL l 2,292,251

RAILWAY GYAVR END 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 i Filed Jan. 4, 1940 v l f Zu/@ntora 25 zas MRS;

4, 1942. E.' w. v'nas-r :rr-'AL RAILWAY CAR END 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 4, 1940 Syewyx f Patented Aug. 4, 1942 UN TED NT lOFFICE RAILWAY CAR ENDl Application January 4, 1940, serial No'. 312,372 13-c1aims. (o1. 10a-41o) The invention relates to .railway boX cars and has for its primary object the provision of corrugated .end walls therefor reinforced to afford um'- form deflection thereof under load.

The principal .object of the invention is the provision -of .a corrugated car end reinforced .in localized areas at the points of Vgreatest. deflection to prevent distortion of the end .by low shifting loads concentrated at the center and to strengthen the .endat the center where it is weakest.

Animportant objectvof the invention is the provision of a car. end reinforced at the points of greatest flexuretoprovide more uniform deflection withoutdisturbing the inherent ilexibility of the end. Specifically, the invention contemplates a corrugated car end in which reinforcing gusset plates are disposed invalternating corrugations with intervening vcorrugations free of such reinforcing gussets kto provide an area of flexibilityv separating the .corrugations reinforced. The invention also .proposes the disposition of such gusset plates in spaced relation to the valleys `of their respective corrugations.

Further, the invention involves the use of reinforcing gusset plates disposed-between .the lowermost corrugationof a lcorrugated end wall and the 'car center sill to brace thek corrugation and preventl distortion thereof.

The'invention comprehendswthe placement of reinforcing gusset Vplates-between corrugations in the lowermost area of a carend at the center thereof, at opposite sides of the-centerin the plane of brace plates between the `lowermost corrugation and .the center-sill, and .at the center of the Vend in combination with others disposed at opposite sides ofthe center,V or disposed merely at opposite sidesof the center of the Vvend.

vThe foregoing and other objects are Yattained by the arrangement illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- .Fig. 1 is a general perspective View of a car 'end constructed in accordance with the invention and showingvthereinforcing gussetplates in the center of the end disposed between alternatefcorrugations with the brace plates arranged between the lowermost corrugationand thevcenter sill in the plane of the side'webs of the center sill;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the linev22 of Fig. 1 illustrating the vsecurement', by'welding,

of one of 'the reinforcinggusset plates within a corrugation;

Fig. 3 is a vertical, sectional view taken on the line 3-3-of Fig. 1v showing the disposition of reinforcinggusset `plates .in alternate corrugations on the outer side .of .the end and brace plates between the lowermost corrugation and the center sill;

Fig. 4 is a transverse, sectional View taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3 through the brace plates showing their attachment to the center sill and end wall by welding;

Fig. 5 is a View similar .to Fig. 3 of a modified form of the invention in which the reinforcing gusset plates are disposed on the inner side of the end wall in alternate corrugations;

Fig. 6 is a similar View of another modification in which the reinforcing gusset plates are disposed in alternate corrugationsonthe outer side of the end wall in spacedrelation to vthe valleys of the corrugations;

Fig. '7 is a perspective View of the lowermost portion of a corrugated end embodying a modilied arrangement of the invention in that the reinforcing gussetlplates Aare disposed in alternate corrugations at opposite .sides of the center of the end in the plane ofthe brace plates at .the center sill position; and V Fig. 8 is an end View of the lowermost portion of an end embodying a still further modified form of the invention in which theV reinforcinggusset plates are disposedbetween alternate y.corrugations in the center of the end and at opposite sides of the center.

In the drawings, vIll represents a car endhaving a plurality of parallel, horizontally disposed corrugations Il extending across the end Vsubstantially throughout its full height. The end is ycomprised of kupper and lower sections I2vand I3 joined by a horizontal welded seam I 4 and provided with marginal flanges I5 for attachment Ato the car sides YI6 having yside sills I'I and side plates I End plate I9 connects the side plates I8, and roof sheets 2l `overlap both and are secured by welding. `Anpend sill v2i) connects the side sills I'I and forms the bottom means of attachment for the end wall which is secured thereto by welding. Center sill 32, having a topv 22 and spacedvertical side webs f 23, projects beyond the plane of the end wall and is traversed by the end sill 20 which is welded to the top 22. A built-up, `welded striking casting 24 is welded in place on the end of the center sill and is adapted to receive and support a coupler shank (not shown). The corrugations II, as shown, are disposed outwardly of the general plane of the end wall and taper at their opposite ends flush therewith, as at 25, although they may be disposed inwardly of the plane of the end wall Without departing from.

the invention. The corrugations each have a crest, or crown, 23 and side walls 21 and provide intervening valleys 28 which are utilized for a purpose hereinafter to appear. On the inner side of the end wall, nailing strips 29 are disposed in the corrugations Il and to which a wooden lining 30 is secured which extends from the wooden floor 3| to a point above the highest load line.

Brace plates 35 are disposed between the lowermost corrugation II and the top 22 of the center sill and, as best shown in Fig. 4, are disposed substantially in the plane of the side webs 23 and are adapted to prevent distortion of the bottom corrugation at the center under the effect of a low shifting load concentrated at the center of the car end. It has been determined, by test, that this elfect, to which all ends are subject, has been very materially reduced by the use of these reinforcements; and, to all practical purposes, the tendency toward this type of distortion has been eliminated. The brace plates 35 at the bottom where they are attached to the center sill top 22 are flanged inwardly at 36 and secured by arc welding. The remaining edges of the brace plates are iianged outwardly, as at 31, and are spot-welded to the vertical flange of the end still 20, the lower side wall 21 of the bottom corrugation Il and the intervening flat portion of the end II). At the opposite or upper side of the bottom corrugation Il, a reinforcing gusset plate 4D is disposed at the center of the car end in the valley 28 between the side walls 21 of adjacent corrugations to which and the valley 28 it is secured at the edges by arc welding, as best shown in Fig. 2. Similar gusset plates 40 are disposed in each valley 28 between adjoining corrugations II up to a point midway of the height of the end IIJ-the uppermost reinforcing gusset 40 bridging the welded seam I4 joining the upper and lower sections I2 and I3 of the end wall.

Considering each undulation of the end wall as a corrugation, the reinforcing gusset plates are disposed in alternate corrugations, whereby the reinforcing gussets are discontinuous and corrugations free of such reinforcing gussets are interposed in order to provide areas of flexibility separating the corrugations reinforced. As the normal tendency of the end wall, under load, is to bow outwardly, whereby the valleys 28 between corrugations and the corrugations themselves, both inside and outside of the end wall, tend to spread, the reinforcing gusset plates therefore function in tension between the various corrugations to prevent distortion thereof. The reinforcing gusset plates 40 are of less height than the depth of the corrugations and are arranged with their outermost edges in planes inside of the planes of the crests of the corrugations in order fully to take advantage of the interposed areas of flexibility between corrugations reinforced and permit a slight flexing of the metal in the side walls of adjacent corrugations under stress. The reinforcing gusset plates operate to prevent excessive spread of the corrugations at points of greatest bending of the end wall under thrusts of the load, and, thus restrained, the corrugations retain their resiliency, short of a permanent set, under stress. The effect of the reinforcing gusset plates is to increase the strength of the end wall at the point where, normally, it is weakest; and test results have indicated not only a more uniform deflection of the end wall by the use of such reinforcements but that the stresses produced in the end wall under the same pressure are greatly lessened thereby in comparison with ends not equipped therewith.

The modified arrangement illustrated in Fig. 5 is similar in construction to that above described, but the reinforcing gusset plates 40 Vare disposed on the inner side of the end wall I0 and arc welded in the same manner and relation as when used on the outer side and function in tension between the corrugation side walls 21, under load, to prevent excessive spread of the corrugations while affording the slight flexibility achieved by the disposition of the reinforcing gussets in alternate corrugations and of less height than the depth of the corrugations, as in the first form, and no further description is thought to be necessary.

The modified construction illustrated in Fig. 6 corresponds exactly with that shown in Fig. 3, and above described, except for the fact that the reinforcing gusset plates 40 are disposed directly in tension between the corrugation side walls 21 in spaced relation to the valleys 28, as at 4I, and are connected only to the side walls of adjacent corrugations and not to the iioor of the intervening valley 28 to avoid possible distortion of the corrugation walls under thrust of the load.

The modified arrangement illustrated in Fig. '1 may be constructed in accordance with either of the three forms previously described and differs therefrom only in the disposition of the reinforcing gusset plates 40 at opposite sides of the center of the end in the planes of the brace plates 35 and in the planes of the side webs 23 of the center sill. Likewise, the modified arrangement illustrated in Fig. 8 may be constructed in accordance with the teachings of the first three forms and differs therefrom in the disposition of the reinforcing gusset plates 40 in the center of the end wall and at opposite sides of the center but outside of the planes of the brace plates 35 at the center sill.

In al1 embodiments of the invention, the reinforcing gusset plates 40 are discontinuous and disposed in alternate corrugations in order to afford the areas of flexibility between corrugations reinforced; and, preferably, all of the gusset plates are of less height than the depth of the corrugations in which they are mounted to gain the benefit of the slight flexibility available in the corrugation side walls 21.

' What is claimed is:

1. In a railway car having a center sill provided with side webs and a top, an end sill traversing the top of the center sill, an end Wall surmounting said end sill and having a plurality of horizontal corrugations disposed in parallel relation with intervening valleys substantially throughout the full height of said end wall, and separate gusset members disposed substantially in the plane of said side webs and connecting said center sill, end sill and the lowermost of said corrugations and integrally secured therewith.

2. In 'a railway car having a center sill provided with side webs and a top, an end sill traversing the top of the center sill, an end wall surmounting said end sill and having a plurality of horizontal corrugations disposed in parallel relation with intervening valleys substantially throughout the full height of said end wall, gusset members disposed substantially in the plane of said side webs and connecting said center sill, end sill and the lowermost of said corrugations and integrally secured therewith, and reinforcing members located laterally of the center of said wall between adjoining corrugations in the lowermost area of the end wall adapted. to be disposed in tension when ythe end wall is under load and arranged substantially in the plane of said gussets.

3. In a railway car having a center sill provided with sidevwebs and a top, an end sill traversing the top of the center sill, an end wall surmounting said end sill and having a plurality of horizontal corrugations disposed in parallel relation with intervening valleys substantially throughout the full height of said end wall, gusset members disposed substantially in the plane of said side webs and connecting said center sill, end sill and the lowermost of said corrugations and integrally secured therewith, and reinforcing members in the center of said wall between adjoining corrugations in the lowermost area of the end wall adapted to be disposed in tension when the end wall is under load.

4. In a railway car having a center sill provided with side webs and a top, an end sill traversing the top of the center sill, an end wall surmounting said end sill and having a plurality of horizontal corrugations disposed in parallel relation with intervening valleys substantially throughout the full height of said end wall, gusset members disposed substantially in the plane of said side webs and connecting said center sill, end sill and the lowermost of said corrugations and integrally secured therewith, and reinforcing members in the center of said wall and other members located laterally of the center thereof between adjoining corrugations in the lowermost area of the end wall adapted to be disposed in tension when the end wall is under load.

5. In a railway car having a center sill provided with side webs and a top, an end sill traversing the top of the center sill, an end wall surmounting said end sill and having a plurality of horizontal corrugations disposed in parallel relation with intervening valleys substantially throughout the full height of said end wall, gusset members disposed substantially in the plane of said side webs and connecting said center sill, end sill and the lowermost of said corrugations and integrally secured therewith, and reinforcing members located laterally of the center of said wall between adjoining corrugations in the lowermost area of the end wall and arranged substantially in the plane of said gussets and spaced from the lowermost part of the said valleys adapted to be disposed in tension when the end wall is under load.

6. In a railway car having a center sill provided with side webs and a top, an end sill traversing the top of the center sill, an end wall surmounting said end sill and having a plurality of horizontal corrugations disposed in parallel relation with intervening valleys substantially throughout the full height of said end wall, gusset members disposed substantially in the plane of said side webs and connecting said center sill, end sill and the lowermost of said corrugations and integrallysecured therewith, and reinforcing members in the center of said wall between adjoining corrugations in the lowermost area of the end wall and spaced from the lowermost part of the said valleys adapted to be disposed in tension when the end wall is under load.

7. InV a railway car having a center sill provided with side webs and a top, an end sill traversing the top of the center sill, an end wall surmounting said end sill and having a plurality of horizontal corrugations disposed in parallel relationl with intervening valleys substantially throughout the full height of said end wall, gusset members disposed substantially in the plane of said side webs and connecting said center sill, end sill and the lowermost of said corrugations and4 integrally .secured therewith, and reinforcingmembers in the center of said wall and other members located laterally of the center thereof between adjoining corrugations in the lowermost area of the end wall and spaced from the lowermost part .of the said valleys.

8. In a railway car having a center sill provided with side Webs and a top, an end sill traversing the top of the center sill, an end wall surmounting said end sill and having a plurality of horizontal corrugations disposed in parallel relation with intervening valleys substantially throughout the `full height of said end wall, and separate flanged gusset members disposed sub.- stantially in the plane of said side webs and connecting said center sill, end sill and the lowermost of said corrugations and integrally secured therewith.

9. In a railway car end Wall comprised of a plurality of panels secured by a horizontal joint at their adjoining edges, each of said panels having a plurality of horizontal corrugations extending in parallel relation, vertically extending reinforcing members between certain of said corrugations adapted to be disposed in tension when the end wall is under load and at least one of said members being integrally connected to the adjacentl sides of the corrugations cn each side of said joint.

10. In a railway car having a center sill provided with a top portion, an end sill traversing th top portions of the center sill, an end wall surmounting said end sill and having a plurality of horizontal corrugations disposed in parallel relation with intervening valleys, gusset means disposed between the lowermost of said corrugations and the center sill and connecting said corrugation, end sill, and center sill and integrally secured therewith, and reinforcing members in the center of said wall between adjoining corrugations in the lowermost area of the end wall adapted to be disposed in tension when the end wall is under load.

1l. In a railway car, an end wall including a plurality of horizontal corrugations disposed in parallel relation substantially throughout the major height of the end wall and located wholly to one side of the main plane of the end wall, and a series of substantially vertically aligned, separate, discontinuous, vertically extending reinforcing members located laterally of the center of the wall secured to and connecting the adjacent sides of adjoining corrugations in the lowermost area of the wall adapted to be stressed in tension when the end wall is under load, said reinforcing members being disposed on one side only of the end wall and on the same side of said main plane as the corrugations whereby excessive spread of the said adjoining corrugations is prevented and flexibility in the corrugated end wall is retained.

12. In a railway car, an end wall including a plurality of horizontal corrugations disposed in parallel relation with intervening valleys substantially throughout the major height of the end wall, and a series of substantially vertically aligned, separate, discontinuous, vertically eX- tending reinforcing members located laterally of major height of the end Wall, and a series of substantially vertically aligned, vertically extending separate reinforcing members arranged discontinuously on one side only of the end Wall and secured to and connecting the adjacent sides of certain adjoining corrugations and adapted to be stressed in tension, and thereby prevent excessive spread of the said adjoining corrugations, when the end Wall is under load.

ELLIS W. TEST,

CARRIE S. MUSSEY, Executra: of the Last Will and Testament of William H. Massey, Deceased. 

